KCMG aiming for strong result in qualification race 24h Nürburgring

KC Motorgroup Ltd. (KCMG) heads to the Nordschleife with two Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 cars for the six-hour ADAC Qualification Race ahead of the famous Nürburgring 24 Hours (20-23 June).

Having utilised the first three rounds of the VLN Endurance Championship to prepare for the legendary event, KCMG returns to the Eifel region confident it can score a strong result after running many laps of the 25.95 km circuit to improve the performance of its cars.

The drivers are ready to take on the challenge of the fearsome venue, where KCMG has raced in all manner of conditions during its preparations in VLN, including snowfall.

Super Formula and Super GT star Joao Paulo de Oliveira is one of the drivers to recently obtain the special license required to race at the Nürburgring, as has Josh Burdon who has impressed during KCMG’s 2019 Intercontinental GT Challenge programme, also running a Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3.

They are joined in the #38 car by Nordschleife specialists Philip Wlazik and Christian Menzel, whose vast combined experience has assisted with the development of the car throughout the opening VLN rounds.

In the #39 machine, Christian’s son Nico returns after his maiden outing at VLN 3. The 2016 Porsche Carrera Cup Asia champion is once again joined by FIA World Endurance Championship LMP2 racer Matthieu Vaxiviere and another Nürburgring expert Christer Jöns.

2016 GT Asia champion Edoardo Liberati is also joining from the IGTC line-up having recently acquired his Nürburgring license. The Italian was one of the drivers in contention for a Bathurst 12 Hour podium with KCMG earlier this year.

Free Practice and Qualifying 1 will take place on Saturday 18 May, with Qualifying 2 and the six-hour race on Sunday, which will determine who gains an entry to the 24 Hours.

In addition to the VLN Endurance Championship and Nürburgring 24 Hours, KCMG remains committed to its Intercontinental GT Challenge campaign with Nissan. The next round is the Spa 24 Hours on 25-28 July.

Joao Paulo de Oliveira, #38 Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3: “Exciting weekend coming up. I’m looking forward to driving the car again and to be able to understand it a bit more. I have done about five laps so far, but now I’ll be able to do more mileage and make progress. We are still on a learning curve, but hopefully this race will get us to the level we want to be at for the 24 Hours.”

Josh Burdon, #38 Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3: “I’m super excited to jump back in Godzilla this weekend for the Qualification Race. The team’s development around the Nordschleife over the past months have been strong and positive so I can’t wait to get started.”

Philip Wlazik, #38 Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3: “The Qualification Race will be a long one, two hours more than the VLN rounds we’ve been doing. I’m really happy we now have the full driver line-up for the 24 Hours to practice tyre changes and get used to the car as a team. We’re confident we can achieve a good result.”

Christian Menzel, #38 Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3: “The last race was vital for us, as we have tested and learned a lot in the dry and wet. Now it is up to us drivers to do the kilometres and run our training routines, this race will be important for that to prepare for the 24 Hours. It’s nice to see how much the fans like KCMG, we are welcomed with open arms which is a good feeling.”

Nico Menzel, #39 Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3: “I’m eager to get back in the car after VLN 3, which was the first time for me with the team. The main target is to collect data, especially in the warmer track conditions as the previous VLN rounds were really cold and mostly rainy. It’s good to have the full line-up in the car so we can sort out everything before the big one. We have fewer competitors than before and two hours more driving, there’s only 100 cars on the track instead of 190 so that’s good for us drivers to concentrate on the track, get some mileage, hopefully with fewer incidents and yellow flags. I think it will be a good one.”

Matthieu Vaxiviere, #39 Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3: “I’m really looking forward to start working with the full driver line-up for the 24 Hours. I also can’t wait to discover the Grand Prix track in its entirety and the atmosphere of the Nürburgring 24 Hours.”

Christer Jöns, #39 Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3: “We are all looking forward to the Qualification Race to finalise our preparation for the marathon 24 Hours next month. KCMG has worked hard during the last few weeks to optimise the Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 in detail. I cannot wait to get back into the car and work with the team.”

Edoardo Liberati, #39 Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3: “I’m excited to be driving the car after I have successfully completed the mandatory VLN races with other cars to get the ‘A Permit’. The Nissan has been developed very well by the KCMG crew in these three races, having tested on the Nordschleife in both wet and dry conditions, so I expect us to be ready to aim for a strong result.”

Paul Ip, KCMG Founder: “It’s been a long road to this point but we are finally knocking on the door of the 24 Hours with the Qualification Race this weekend. Everything we have done to improve the Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3, which the drivers and team have put a lot of effort into, will now be put to the test against our competitors. We have an incredible line-up for this event and I wish them the best ahead of the Qualification Race.”

More News

During the season highlight at the Nürburgring-Nordschleife, Mercedes-AMG Motorsport will be attacking again with a strong line-up. The goal is clear: bringing the next victory in the Nürburgring 24-hour race after 2013 and 2016 to Affalterbach. To this end, a total of seven Mercedes-AMG GT3 will be competing in the legendary endurance racing classic, four of them with extended factor more >>

The winning Manthey-Racing team aims to defend its title at the 24-hour race on the Nürburgring in 2019. Backed by the factory for this campaign, the squad from Meuspath, Germany, will tackle the race with two new 911 GT3 R. more >>

Race car and driver line-up revealed at the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Festival― TOYOTA GAZOO Racing announced that it will compete with the Lexus LC for the second year in a row at the 47th 24 Hours of Nürburgring Endurance Race (officially titled “ADAC more >>

With over 1.5 million views on YouTube, Falken Tyre’s video from the iconic ADAC Zurich 24-Hour Race on the Nürburgring Nordschleife was well received. Now, fans can look forward to an extra helping of thrills and spills as Falken r more >>

“One Team, One Tyre, One Goal” is the appropriate title of a new video produced by tyre brand FALKEN, showcasing the 2018 ADAC Zurich 24h-Race held at the Nürburgring race track. The stunning footage in the three-minute video captur more >>

One of the most prestigious endurance events in the world. With an impressive entry of 150 crews – combined with the unique 25-kilometer Nordschleife circuit, the ADAC Zurich Nürburgring 24 Hours is a very special challenge. This year, the we more >>

BLACK FALCON have scored an unprecedented set of results at a particularly grueling Nürburgring 24 Hours, taking two of the overall podium positions as well as the fifth place with their factory-backed Mercedes-AMG GT3. They also scored a more >>

Marco Seefried drove a Porsche 911 GT3 R for Frikadelli Racing at the legendary 24 Hours of the Nürburgring. After a strong qualifying and a good first half, the squad had to give up the race during the night because of several incidents.The 2 more >>

With a powerful final sprint, Mario Farnbacher clinched a podium finish for himself and his team at the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring. Despite setbacks during the night, the team fought its way forward in the Ring Racing team’s Lexus RC F to second place in the SP8 class. more >>